Ruhsar Pekcan

Graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at Istanbul Technical University (ITU) in 1980 and completed her graduate studies at the same faculty.

Mrs. PEKCAN started her professional career at TSKB- Industrial Development Bank of Turkey in 1981 and served as General Manager and Board Member of different companies.

In harmony with her professional achievements, Mrs. PEKCAN played important roles in NGOs. She was the Co-Chairperson of Turkish-Syrian Business Council, Board Member of Turkish-Libyan and Turkish-Iraq Business Councils.

Moreover, Mrs. PEKCAN undertook active roles about creating awareness and promoting women entrepreneurship in Turkey. In that vein, She served as the Vice Chairwoman of Woman Entrepreneurs’ Board of TOBB (The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchange of Turkey), member of Istanbul Women Entrepreneurs Committee in ITO (Istanbul Chamber of Commerce), Board Member of Woman Entrepreneurs of ECO-CCI (Economic Cooperation Organization Chamber of Commerce and Industry).

Mrs. PEKCAN received the IWEC (International Women Entrepreneur Challenge) award, which was given by Barcelona/Manhattan/New Delhi chamber of commerce in 2012 in Barcelona, Spain.

Moreover, she was selected as the Global Ambassador of IWEC (International Women Entrepreneur Challenge) in 2012.

She is one of the founding members of BPW (Business Professional Women) Istanbul Club.

Mrs. PEKCAN speaks English, she is married with two children.

On July 10th 2018, she was appointed as the Minister of Trade at the 1st cabinet of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.